After a few days off,
I’m back and with a ton of moves to cover.
Giants acquire LB
Keith Rivers from Bengals
The Giants acquired linebacker Keith Rivers from the Bengals
for a 5th round draft pick on Thursday.
I like this moves from both sides. I like Rivers and think
that he is a better linebacker than most people give him credit for. However he
has had injury issues in his career and those could dog him in New York. However,
if he stays healthy, he’s a very good weakside linebacker and can definitely help
the Giants linebacker problems.
Giants sign LB Chase
Blackburn
The Giants signed linebacker Chase Blackburn to a one-year
contract worth $825,000 dollars Friday.
This moves didn’t just make sense, I wonder why it took so
long. Blackburn missed most of last season because no one signed him, but when
he returned, the Giants defense seemed to come around. Blackburn is the ideal
middle linebacker for the Giants defense and is a great leader. He’s likely
going to have to fight for the starting job, but I think he’s got a good chance
to win it.
Jaguars sign WR Lee
Evans, DT David Howard, re-sign LB JoJo Dickson, K Sam Swank
The Jaguars signed wide receiver Lee Evans to a one-year
deal on Sunday. They also signed defensive tackle Daivd Howard and re-signed
linebacker JoJo Dickson and kicker Sam Swank.
Most analysts aren’t really high on this move but I like it.
Evans felt very under-utilized in Baltimore and has been injury-prone the last
few years. These factor have driven down his price and makes him a good value
for the Jaguars if he can stay healthy and play up to the level that he played
at in his early days at Buffalo. If not, then the Jaguars haven’t risked much
for a one-year deal. The other signings are likely going to only be training
camp invitees. Any one of them who makes it out of training camp will likely b
a bottom of the roster player.
Patriots re-sign OC
Dan Koppen, K Chris Koepplin
The Patriots re-signed offensive center Dan Koppen to a
two-year deal worth up to $6 million dollars and Chris Koepplin to an
undisclosed contract on Friday.
While the signing of Koepplin will likely be nothing more
than a training camp kicker who will probably not make it out of training camp.
Koppen’s signing is a bigger deal. Koppen’s experience and strength makes him a
solid depth lineman and he’ll likely find somewhere to start along an offensive
line that is in flux.
Texans sign LB Bradie
James, re-sign LB Tim Dobbins
The Texans signed linebacker Bradie James to a one-year deal
worth $825,000 dollars on Thursday. They also re-signed linebacker Tim Dobbins
to an undisclosed contract on Thursday.
I like these signings. James is an experienced interior
linebacker with good awareness and play-making skills. He’ll push young Daryyl
Sharpton for playing time as the Texans try to find a way to replace the
departed DeMeco Ryans. Dobbins is an excellent special teams player who adds
value as a third linebacker and run stuffer.
I really like both of these signings and expect to see good production
from the linebacker position this year.
Redskins sign S
Tanard Jackson, re-sign LB London Fletcher
The Redskins signed safety Tanard Jackson to a one-year
contract and linebacker London Fletcher to a two-year contract on Friday.
The Redskins fortified their defense with both of these
moves. Jackson is an extremely good safety whose problems have always been more
about his off-the-field problems than his pay on the field. He’s one more
failed drug test away from missing another season to suspension. He’s solid in
run support and has good enough range to cover the back end in pass coverage.
If he stays out of trouble, he should be the starter by the beginning of the
season. The re-signing of Fletcher was on obvious move on both sides. Fletcher,
the most underrated linebacker of the last 20 years, is an All-Pro caliber middle
linebacker in almost every aspect. He’s the leader of that defense and should
dominate the middle of the defense for the remainder of his contract.
Broncos signed WR
Brandon Stokley
The Broncos signed wide receiver Brandon Stokley to a
one-year contract.
This signing makes sense, though I think it doesn’t add a
ton of value. Stokley has good experience with Peyton Manning from playing a
few years in Indianapolis, but he’s older and may have lost the speed to be a
solid receiver. We’ll see as time passes, but he’ll at least bring a solid veteran
presence and intelligent route running.
Seahawks re-sign LB
Leroy Hill, LB Matt McCoy
The Seahawks re-signed linebackers Leroy Hill and Matt McCoy
to one-year deals on Thursday.
These moves make sense. The Seahawks still have a need in
the linebacking corp. but with these signings and the signing of Barrett Ruud,
they have more leeway to address the best player available and try and get
value at the linebacker position. Hill has been a starter for a number of years
and should slide back into one of the outside linebacking spots without much a
problem.
Dolphins sign LB Gary
Guyton
The Dolphins signed linebacker Gary Guyton to a one-year
deal.
I generally like this signing. The Dolphins are trying to
figure out what to do at interior linebacker next to stalwart Karlos Dansby.
Guyton has experience, though he fell out of favor with the Patriots last
season. He should push incumbent Kevin Burnett for playing time. If nothing
else, Guyton should be a good contributor as a special teams player.
Titans re-sign DE
Dave Ball
The Titans re-signed defensive end Dave Ball to a one-year
deal worth $1.2 million dollars on Thursday.
Dave Ball has been a solid pass rushing sub with the Titans,
but he’s mostly a high effort player with limited physical tools. His market
likely wasn’t huge, so it’s not much of a surprise that they got him back.
Steelers re-sign TE David
Johnson, OC Doug Legursky, OT Trai Essex, QB Charlie Batch
The Steelers re-signed tight end David Johnson, offensive
center Doug Legursky and offensive tackle Trai Essex to undisclosed contracts
on Thursday. They also re-signed quarterback Charlie Batch to a one-year
contract on Monday.
These are all general re-signing that I think will help the
Steelers, but not immensely. Johnson is a solid blocker who often doubles as a
fullback to help the running game. Legursky and Essex have both been solid back
up offensive linemen, each one playing well whenever they had to be called upon
to fill-in for starters. Batch has been like Legursky and Essex, solid for a
game or two when called upon. These are generally unspectacular, but important
moves.
Bengals re-sign TE Donald Lee
The Bengals re-signed tight end Donald Lee to an undisclosed
contract on Friday.
Lee is experienced and should add value as a second or third
tight end, but beyond that he doesn’t add a lot of value. The Bengals tight end
position is dominated by Jermaine Gersham and I don’t think that Lee is going
to add a lot of production to the position.
Chargers sign OT
Mario Henderson, re-sign FB Jacob Hester
The Chargers signed offensive tackle Mario Henderson to a one
year deal and re-signed fullback Jacob Hester to a one-year deal on Friday.
Henderson has starting experience with the Raiders, but was
never a great player when he was there. He should add value as a depth
offensive tackle and occasional extra blocker. Jacob Hester has been developing
from a versatile big running back to a versatile fullback. He’s also the top
special teams player on the Chargers and should continue to serve in that role
for next year. I like the signing of Hester, though Henderson’s signing will
not add much.
Raiders re-sign S
Matt Giordano
The Raiders re-signed safety Matt Giordano to an undisclosed
contract on Monday.
Girodano was primarily a backup safety who could fill in at
either safety position if need be and special teams ace. He’s a good insurance
policy in case Tyvon Branch doesn’t get a contract extension signed or hold
out. I like the signing as a whole.
Jets sign DE Jay
Richardson, S DeAngelo Smith
The Jets signed defensive end Jay Richardson and safety
Deangelo Smith to undisclosed contracts on Monday.
While I view Smith as a pure special teamer and lower on the
roster player, I love the signing of Richardson. Richardson isn’t a great pass
rusher or athlete, but he’s always been stout against the run and is a solid
technician. I think he’ll fit into the Jets defensive line rotation wonderfully
and he could between out incumbent Mike Devito for the starting job opposite
Muhammad Wilkerson.
Saints re-sign WR
Courtney Roby
The Saints re-signed wide receiver Courtney Roby to a
one-year deal on Monday.
With Robert Meachem moving on in free agency, the Saints
need to try and find someone to replace his impact down the field. With limited
draft picks and cap space, re-signing the speedy Roby makes sense, though he’s
not likely going to replace the production by himself.
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